Larry Stephens

We Need To Talk About Larry: In this episode the special guest is Julie Warren, author of the wonderful new book It's All In the Mind - The Life & Legacy of Larry Stephens.  We talk about the man who was one of the most important figures in helping shape and develop the Goons, as well as being a close friend and collaborator of Tony Hancock. Stephens was of the hardest-working comedy scriptwriters in the country, writing also for television (notably The Army Game) yet he has all but been forgotten as one of the leading creative forces in British radio comedy.  We discuss Larry's often eventful and never dull relationship with Spike Milligan, his close friendship with Hancock and Peter Sellers, the many struggles he faced in terms of receiving credit where it was due and some of the shows he worked on (including the infamous UFO show), as well as examining Larry's comedy writing style, his early life, wartime experiences and his tragically early death in 1959. It's a fascinating and illuminating conversation and one which any serious radio comedy enthusiast should download and listen to immediately!